Switch-regulator.



No. 726,327. PATENTED APR. 28, 1903.

W. S. MOODY.

SWITCH REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG 21, 1902 N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVALTER S. MOODY, OF SOHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEIV YORK.

SWITCH-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 726,327, dated April 2 8, 1903. Application filed August 21, 1902- Serial 110.120.4531. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VALTER S. MOODY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Regulators,of which the following is a specification.

In compensators for starting alternatingcurrent motors a switch mechanism is employed, which in the neutral or inoperative position disconnects the motor from the feedlines, in the starting position connects the motor to the feeding-lines through a sufficient number of the coils of the compensator to give the desired starting voltage, and in the third or running position connects the motor directly to the lines, the compensator in the last position being cut entirely out of the circuit. For constructive reasons this switch mechanism is frequently so arranged that the neutral or inoperative position is located between the starting and running positions. With this construction it is possible for careless operators to throw the switch from the neutral position directly into the running position, thus obtaining none of the advantages due to the use of the compensator.

The object of my invention is to provide means which shall compel a movement of the switch from the neutral position into the starting position beforeit can be moved into the running position; and it consists in providing a lock which normally prevents the movement of the switch from the neutral position to the running position, but which becomes inoperative when the switch is moved into the starting position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section and partly broken away, showing a compensator having its -switch operating mechanism provided with one embodimentof my invention. Fig. 21s a side elevation showing the same embodiment, part of the casing being broken away. Fig. 3 is a view,partly in section and partly diagrammatic, showing the lock-controlling means. Fig. 4 is a View, partly in sectighn, showing a mod-ified form of lock-controlling means.

In the drawings the controller-casing has mou tited upon it a switch-operating lever 2.

This switch-actuating lever 2 is pivoted to the casing at 3 and carries below the pivot an indicatingfinger 4. Dial-marks 5, 6, and 7 are formed on the casing, which when pointed at by the finger 4 indicate the starting, neutral, and running positions of the switch, respectively. The upper end of the switchactuating lever 2 is provided with a handhold 8. Between the handhold S and the piv- 6o otal point 3 the lever is provided with an arcshaped flange 9, the center from which the are is struck being thepi'votal point 3. The flange 9 is provided on its under side with a groove or depression 10 substantially rectangular in'cross -section. This groove extendsfrom the left side of the arc-shaped flange to about the middle of the flange, where it terminates in'a shoulder 12.

A solenoid 13 is secured to the front of the casing 1 with its axis vertical and in a vertical plane passing through the point of sup port 3. The core 14 of the solenoid is a rod or bar which carries at its upper end a head 15, adapted to travel freely in the groove 10 of the arc-shaped flange. The right side of the head 15 is straight, so as to abut squarely against the shoulder 12. The other side of the head may be curved, as shown in the drawings. An extension-spring 16 is shown, which acts between the top of the solenoid 13 and the bolt-head 15 to hold the bolt in the position shown in Fig. 1, with the bolt-head 15 and the shoulder 12in engagement. Below .the solenoid 13 a dash-pot 17 is placed, and the lower end of the core or bolt 14 carries a suitable piston, which enters the dash-pot.

In the diagram of connections shown in Fig. 3 lines 18 run from the switch-cylinder 20, which is actuated by the switch-lever of the compensator to some three-phase source of current not indicated in the drawings. Lines 19 run from the switch-cylinder to the motor. The terminals of the lines 18 and 19 at the switch-cylinder are designated by the reference-numerals 18' and 19', respectively.

21 represents the three windings of the compensator, which are connected in Y at one end, the other end of the coil having terminals 22l Taps' 23 take off current from the I coils of the compensator intermediate the ends. Current for the solenoid 13 is furnished by the supplemental 'winding 24, placed on one of the cores of the compensators. Instead of using a separate winding furnishing current to the solenoid taps may be run out from a few coils of one of the main compensator-windings, if desired.

The operation of my device is as follows: The switch-lever when in the neutral position, being that shown in the drawings, cannot be swung into the running position, owing to the engagement between the bolt-head and the shoulder 12 of the flange carried by the switch-actuating lever. The switch-lever, however, can be thrown into the starting position with the finger 4 opposite the dial-mark 5. In this position the switch-cylinder is turned so that the terminals 18 are connected to the terminals 22 of the compensator and the terminals 23 of the compensator are connected to the motor-terminals 19'. Current is thus furnished to the motor at a reduced voltage.

The passage of current through the coils of the compensator prod uces an electromotive force in the winding 24, thus energizing the solenoid 13. This acts to withdraw the bolthead 15 from the groove 11 to a distance somewhat below the bottom of the flange. The switch-lever 2 can'then be thrown. to the extreme left, the dash-pot preventing the return of the bolt-head 15 to the operating position for a sufficient interval to allow thenecessary movement. In this position, with thefinger 4 at the dial-mark 7, the switch-cylinder'i is turned so that the terminals 19 are connected to the terminals 25', which are in turn connected to the lines 18 through lines 25 and suitable fuses 26. In this position of the switch-cylinder the compensator is entirely out out and that part of the line 18 which extends from the switch-cylinder to the juncljltill of the line 25 with the line 18 becomes id e.

After the switch-actuating lever is moved to the running position, the source of current for the solenoid 13 having become inactive, the core 14 under the action of the spring 16 is forced upward until the bolt-head 15 engages with the bottom of the flange 9. Whenever the switch-lever is moved toward the right into the neutral position, the sliding bolt will move into the groove 10 and become operative to prevent an immediate return movement of the switch-lever to the running position. The solenoid, dash-pot, and winding 24 can be so proportioned as to regulate the 1 minimum of time which it is necessary that the switch-lever shall remain in the starting position.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4 the switch-lever 2 carries a curved flange 9, having a groove 10 formed on its under side. In the upper surface of this groove depressions 27, 28, and 29 are formed, with which the bolthead 15 engages when the switch-lever is in the starting, neutral, and running positions,

respectively. A shoulder 12 is provided,

which normally engages the bolt-head 15 and prevents the movement from the neutral position into the running position. In this construction the solenoid is dispensed with and the extension-spring 16 is mounted between the bolt-head and the top of the dash-pot 17. The flange 9 and its groove 10 are so formed, however, that when the switch-leveris thrown into the starting position the bolt-head 15 is forced downward by the top wall of the groove, which acts as a cam, to a position somewhat below that necessary to clear the shoulder 12. The notches or depressions 27 and 29 are rounded out, soas to yieldingly hold the switch lever against movement. These notches 27, 28, and 29 are employed to prevent accidental displacement of the switch-lever.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2 a springpressed tooth 30 is provided, which engages with suitable depressions (not shown) in the front of the casing and prevents accidental displacement of the lever from any of the three positions to which it is adapted to be thrown.

In both the construction shown in Figs. 1,

2, and 3 and that shown in Fig. 4 the bolt and its controlling mechanism might be mounted on the switch-levelgif desired, and in this case, of course, the grooved flange would be carried by the casing of the compensator.

While I have shown and described my invention as embodied in a compensator-switch mechanism, I do not consider it as restricted to use in this relation only, and I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction here shown and described, as I consider modifications of the structure and use may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent 01' the United States, is-

1. The combination of a switch having its neutral position between two operative positions, and means for preventing the movement of the switch into one of the operative positions without first being moved into the other operative position. K

2. In combination, a compensator and a switch therefor having its neutral position between its starting position and its running position, means controlled by the compensator for preventing the movement of the switch from the neutral position into the running position without first passing through the starting position.

3. In combination, a switch adapted to be thrown from a neutral position into two' operative positions, means normally preventing the movement of the switch from the neutral position into one of the operative positions, means for rendering said preventing mefi inoperative on the movement of the switch into the other operative position, and means for maintaining said preventing meanstinoperative for an appreciable period.

4. In combination, a movable switch, a lock normally preventing the movement cit the IIO switch in one direction, an electromagnet energized on the movement of the switch in the opposite direction for moving said lock into an inoperative position, and a dash-pot for preventing the immediate return of the lock to the operative position.

5. In an electric switch, a movable switch member, means normally preventing the movement of the member in one-direction, and means operated by the movement of the member in the opposite direction for rendering said preventing means inoperative.

6. The combination of a switch adapted to be thrown into a neutral position, a starting position and a running position, the said switch being normally in the neutral position, means for preventing the movement of said switch-lever directly into the running position, and means actuated by the movement of the switch-lever into the starting position to render said preventing means inoperative.

7 The combination of a switch adapted to be thrown from a normal position intoa starting position or running position, means preventing the movement from the normal position into the running position without first passing through the starting position, said means being adapted to require the retaining of the switch-lever in the starting position an appreciable time before the switch-lever can be moved into the running position.

8. In combination, a compensator and a switch therefor adapted to be thrown into a neutral position, a starting position and a running position, and means controlled by the compensator for preventing the movement of the switch from the neutral position to the running position without first passing through the starting position.

9. In combination, a switch adapted to be thrown into three positions, and means comprising a lock, a solenoid and a dash-pot for preventing the movement of the switch from a certain one of those positions into a certain other of those positions Without first passing through the third position.

10. In combination, a casing, a switch-lever adapted to be thrown into a plurality of positions, a grooved flange carried by said switch-lever, a locking-bolt carried by the casing, said locking-bolt being normally held against said flange and engaging with the shoulder on said flange to prevent movement of the switch-lever into one position, means for depressing said bolt operated when the switch-1ever is moved into another position, and a dash-pot for preventing the immediate return of the locking-bolt to the original position. 1

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of August, 1902.

WALTER S. MOODY Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, ALMA L. MENSCHKE. 

